Three-star recruit Noah Bodden will take the field as the starting quarterback for the Grambling when they host Alabama A&M Saturday, Oct. 2.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound true freshman has a lot of promise many are hoping will lead the Tigers to success.
“I wanted to make sure that we worked him in slowly, but also that we build a plan around him that would allow him to be successful,” head football coach Broderick Fobbs said during a SWAC media virtual call. “
We’re going to let him go, we’re going to let him roll and support him as much as we possibly can and give the tools he needs in order to have a chance to win the game.”
Bodden was inserted late in the third quarter in the State Fair Classic versus Prairie View A&M. The G-Men lost that game 24-10.
In the State Fair Classic game Elijah Walker and Gene Wilson combined for just 135 yards passing, one interception on 34 passing attempts.
Grambling has had a rough start to this season with a 1-3 record and is looking to bounce back with changing the lineup.
Two of those losses came from FBS schools Houston and the University of Southern Mississippi.
They were shutouts in which the Tigers struggled to score.
The offense has been struggling badly.
During these three consecutives straight loses the team has only been eight touchdowns in four games.
“It begins and ends with our quarterback position,” Fobbs said. “We haven’t played well at that position the last three or four years. We feel that we have a kid that has the opportunity to be a really good quarterback for us. You know that’s one position that you just can’t hide.”
Bodden was the fourth quarterback this season to take snaps when he entered last week’s contest.
“For the time I did get a chance to get in, I felt very comfortable.,” Bodden said.
“I have always been prepared for this moment working hard in practices, getting the reps I needed. I feel like I could have some big plays for the team but that’s just having teammate chemistry. Starting next week against Alabama A&M, I just plan on keeping my focus, staying locked in and whatever the coaches want me to do. I’m going to perform to the best of my ability.”
When he committed to Grambling State last September from Christ the King Regional in Queens, N.Y. Bodden was the no. 1 quarterback recruit in the state of New York.
He had many offers in high school including from Division I FBS programs like Arizona State, Baylor, Oregon, Tennessee and Purdue as well as fellow SWAC member Alcorn State.
Grambling alum and football great Bruce Eugene coached Bodden in high school and became his mentor.
“I was considering a lot of the different schools but I decided to go Grambling because my mentor was there and Coach Eugene has so many records and I want to break all of those records,” Bodden said.
With a long season ahead, this true freshman aims to change the program and lead Grambling State to victory.
Bodden’s first test will be against the reigning champions Alabama A&M.
They are leading the SWAC conference undefeated 3-0.
“Coach Fobbs and the coaching staff believe in me and I just want to help my team lead to victory,” Bodden said.
“Defense has been playing great, but offense we just have to make adjustments and learning in practices and film, just want to build that chemistry.”
Noah Bodden
